Improvement in rafting-cribs



CHARLES WESLEY TOBEY, OF GANASTOTA, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAFTlNG-CRIBS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 162,124, dated April 13, 1875 application filed August 29, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES WESLEY ToBEY, of Canastota, in the county of Mad ison and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Raftin g Cribs or Frames; and 1 do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is an end view; and Fig. 3 is a top view of the adjustable beam, detached.

The object of the invention is to provide cribs for securely holding together rafts of logs, or any kind oflumher in tiers, one upon another, as numerous as the depth of the water will permit. To accomplish this any required number of frames are used, each frame consisting of a base-beam under the raft, and two upright posts, and an adjustable top beam, all made of timbers of sufficient size to afford the requisite strength, constructed as hereinafter described.

A represents the posts, securely attached and held to the base-beams B by means of the iron braces to, which are attached at the corners of the frames by means of screws, and the posts are strengthened by knees I), attached to the inner corners of the frames, as shown in the drawings. 0 represents the top adjustable beams, provided with boxes 0 at the ends, securely bolted to the beams, and arranged to slide over the post, as shown in the drawings. The boxes and beams are provided with holes to receive the bolts 0, by which the beams are held in place. D represents an adjustable brace-beam, made and provided with boxes, the same as beam 0, to be used as a brace in pressing down beam 0 on the top of the raft. The frames are placed some distance from the ends of the raft E, and as many frames used as the length and size of the raft may require to securely hold it together. F F represent strong guy-ropes or cables, made of wire or any suitably strong materials. The upper ends of these guys are provided with swivels d (l, andproper screws and nuts for tightening the guys, and are attached to the vinner sides of the upper ends of the posts A, and are extended diagonally across the frames, and are placed zigzaggingly between the logs, and the lower ends of the guys are attached to the knees I) b, in the corners of the frames, as shown. When the raft is completed within the frames, the adjustable beam 0 is placed in position by sliding the boxes 0 0 over the posts till the beam rests on the top of the raft. Beam D is then placed on the posts, and secured in proper position by bolts 6 6, so as to form a brace for the jack-screw G, having its lower end resting on the top of beam 0, by means of which brace-beam and jack-screw the beam 0 is pressed tightly down on the raft, and secured in place by the bolts 0. The beam D may then be removed, and in like manner used for pressing down the adjustable beams on each of the frames. Instead of a jackscrew, a lever may be used for pressing down the adjustable presser-beams.

The guys serve to support the frames and rafts in chop or cross seas, and to prevent the wringing motion of the rafts, and thus protect the iron braces on the corners of the frames.

The usual steering-sweep is attached to a cross bar or log on the top and at the ends of the rafts; and the proper leaks are placed on the port and starboard sides of the raft, at the waters edge, so as to tie the frames, and protect against collisions, abutments, and lock-gates.

All parts of the frames may be attached together with screw-bolts and wood-screws, so as to be readily taken apart for transportation.

To hold presser-beams C more firmly, and to prevent them from springing in the middle, one or more stay-rods, B, may be used for each beam.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A raft-crib having an under beam, 13, In testimony that I claim the foregoing as and upright posts A, and adjustable beam my own invention I affix my signature in (J, substantially as and for the purposes depresence of two witnesses.

scribed. 7 O. W. TOBEY.

2. In combination with the raft-crib A B Witnesses: O, the adjustable brace-beam D, substantially E. O. WEAVER,

as and for the purposes described. I E. M. FINGH. 

